Rob Whiting, 2009-10 Michael B. Keegan Fellow

A native of Amelia Island, Florida, Rob Whiting graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2009 magna cum laude with a B.A. in economics and East Asian studies. While at Vanderbilt he was awarded the Ingram Scholarship for his work with Students for Students, Inc., a non-profit organization he founded that is aimed at expanding college access for inner-city high school stu-dents. Prior to his work with Students for Students, Rob led a committee of Students Promoting Environmental Awareness & Recycling to form a proposal that was successful in creating the Vanderbilt’s first sustainability office. A student of Mandarin, he spent each summer break traveling to China for study or volunteer work. Throughout his Vanderbilt career, Rob competed for the Varsity Men’s Cross Country team, for which he was awarded the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship, Southeastern Conference McWhorter Scholarship, and was a National Finalist for the John Wooden Citizenship Cup. Before Vanderbilt, Rob graduated Salutatorian from Fernandina Beach High School.